6.29.2014

There are a few too many good steals today on the web. These four items could be whipped together for the perfect summer look in my opinion. Easy, breezy, colorful, and affordable. What more could a gal or guy ask for? Happy Sunday Sweets...J

6.28.2014

Hi Friends! I am posting today from my new C-O-M-P-U-T-E-R! Eek! Though my crazy schedule has certainly impacted my ability to post as often as I would like, I was also having major technology woes. I mean when it rains it pours...right?

I think I shared that my camera broke and then my computer finally took her last breath. I had been putting off getting a new computer for a while because I always feel like I like to get the last drop out of my technology. So the last drop was taken, and I am here with my new little 11 inch MacBook friend.

So for my first post using the new gal, why not kick things off with a pineapple shirt and aztec print pants? This is one of those looks that I thought might be all wrong when I dreamed it up, but I think it it turned out simply lovely. So what do you think? Are the pineapples and aztec too much or just right? Happy Saturday...J

6.19.2014

Hi there! I am so proud of myself for sharing photos of myself in shorty shorts on the blog. Thanks to the most inspiring trainer ever, Tammy at BPresent Studio, I am feeling the best I have felt in a long time. The Barre classes not only work muscles I did not know existed, but the teams' focus on a healthy mind, body, and soul make me feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside.

Two of my favorite quotes consistently mentioned in class are...."She believed she could, so she did." And...."Don't compare your beginning or middle to someone else's end." When I was expressing frustration about a certain body part the other day, Tammy straight out said, "Do you think you are being too tough on yourself?" And I thought. You know what, gosh darn it, I am being too tough on myself.

This year my body survived a brutal Northern Indiana winter of shoveling snow on a weekly basis, ran a half marathon, and recovered form unexpected surgery. Instead of only focusing on improvements I want to make to be a bit healthier, I also need to take time to give thanks for the wonderful things my body helps me do on a weekly basis. So thankful to have found a simply lovely place to exercise. Anyone else out there get a little bit nervous about shorty shorts? Or has anyone else been a little too tough on themselves lately? Or maybe you have a favorite inspiring quote that has been on your mind lately? Do share. Happy weekend...J

P.S. Did anyone notice I am sporting two different necklaces in this look? Which one did you like better? Just askin.

6.15.2014

Grilled Fennel Sausage Pizza
Since moving to our new place, we have been cooking all the time. This is partly related to finally having our dream kitchen and partly related to the fact that we have been eating gluten and dairy free as often as possible. We have been working to transform some of our old favorites to new healthy options. First up, of course, was pizza. Instead of a deep dish from Jet's, we cooked up some of our favorite ingredients, whipped up a healthy sauce, and piled everything on top of a thin gluten free crust. The result was a healthy version of an old favorite. Ingredients:
2 Personal Gluten Free Pizza Crusts
3 Italian Sausage Links
3 tbsp of Fennel
1/2 C of Mushrooms
8 Slices of Pepperoni
2 Tomatoes
4 tbsp of Olive Oil
1 Garlic Clove
*Salt, Pepper, Red Pepper Flakes, Italian Seasoning to Taste

Sauce:
Use a food processor to finely chop the garlic clove. Then add 2 tomatoes and 3 tbsp of olive oil to the food processor. Process ingredients until transformed in to a smooth sauce. Add salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, and italian seasoning to taste.

Pizza:
Begin to thaw pizza crusts and heat grill to 700 degrees. Remove sausage casing and place sausage into a frying pan and add 3 tbsp of fennel. On medium to high heat cook sausage and fennel until browned and set aside. In a separate frying pan, add 1 tbsp of olive oil and mushrooms. Saute mushrooms until browned and set aside. Slice pepperoni slices in to small pieces. Once pizza crusts are properly thawed, cover crust with a thin layer of sauce. Then add sausage & fennel, pepperoni, and mushrooms evenly between both crusts. Dust with spices to taste. Place crusts directly on grill and cook until the edges of crusts are browned.

Where you could go wrong:
1. Too many toppings. Remember that this is thin crust people. If you put to many things on the thing it will be drooping and not delicious.
2. Not cooking your meat all the way. Remember to cook that sausage in the pan before grilling the pizza. No one likes a pizza with undercooked meat.
3. Not spreading sauce and ingredients all the way to the edges. Since the crust is gluten free and you are eating this without delicious cheese you will want to maximize the crust space. Grilled gluten free crust is much better with sauce and toppings.

6.03.2014

In honor of the fact that I have not shared a single post with you all in over half a month, I thought I would share a picture with no specs. No sunnies, no nerdy glasses, just good old J. Reasons at your service. I have actually been saving these pictures for a rainy day because I did not love them at first. I felt almost naked without my shades or sunglasses. They have sort of become my super hero cape. But with all the change I have experienced in the last several months, I am challenging myself to relax a bit. So here I am...relaxed...without my usual look. But I really was not all that relaxed when we took these photos. The wind was blowing gusting, rain drops started to fall, did I want to go with the sweater on, or with the sweater off. You get the messing picture. But I look pretty relaxed. Don't ya think? I have missed you guys. Happy Tuesday...J